Paper Details

Entrepreneurship has historically been characterized as a male-dominated domain shaped by gendered assumptions regarding leadership, innovation, and risk-taking. However, women’s participation in entrepreneurial activities has increased significantly in recent decades, particularly in emerging economies such as India. This paper adopts a descriptive research design to examine the socio-economic and psychological dimensions influencing women’s entrepreneurship. It analyzes structural barriers such as limited access to finance, gender stereotypes, and work–life balance constraints, alongside internal psychological factors including self-efficacy, motivation, and risk perception. Drawing on recent India-specific data, the study highlights both progress and persistent disparities in women’s entrepreneurial participation. The paper proposes a conceptual framework illustrating the interaction between socio-economic and psychological determinants. The findings suggest that while gender bias continues to influence entrepreneurial opportunities, women are actively redefining entrepreneurial identities and contributing to inclusive economic development.

Women entrepreneurship, gender bias, socio-economic factors, psychological factors, India, work–life balance